Track-deck interaction on long deck bridges

The interaction between the track and the deck on long deck bridges with ballasted track and continuously welded rail can generate excessive forces in the rail that may affect the stability and safety of the track. As such it is of prime importance to track maintenance engineers. The Australian bridge code does not cover track to deck interaction, however UIC Code 774-3 does, but some deck and track temperature criteria assumed by UIC Code 774-3 are not applicable to Australian conditions. The paper discusses the analysis of the track to deck interaction using criteria recommended by UIC 774-3 but also including rail thermal stresses to Australian conditions. The determination of appropriate maximum permissible rail stresses is also discussed as well as design initiatives that may limit localised peak rail stresses. To ensure that the rail stresses remain below the maximum permissible, a continued program of bridge and track monitoring and maintenance is required. The paper describes these requirements. The paper concludes that where possible, long deck bridges should be avoided in order to eliminate potential risk and costs associated with long term monitoring and maintenance requirements. However where a long deck bridge is used, a rigorous rail stress evaluation is required to establish that acceptable levels of rail stress are not exceeded and deck monitoring and track maintenance procedures should be implemented from the time that the deck and track construction is completed.

• Record URL:
  • http://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&rID=MjQxNg==&sID=ODI=&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&qcf=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==
• Authors:
  • Townsend S
• Conference:
  • CORE 2014, Rail transport for a vital economy, conference on railway engineering, Adelaide, South Australia, 5-7 May 2014
• Publication Date: 2014-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 14p. ; PDF
• Monograph Title: Rail transport for a vital economy: CORE 2014: conference on railway engineering, 5-7 May 2014, Adelaide, South Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge design; Bridge management systems
• ATRI Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge design; Bridge maintenance
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01545200
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 25 2014 10:19AM